Making photocopies for private use is not an infringement of copyright. Copying a public speech or a lecture does not constitute infringement either. In addition, copyright infringement does not occur if you copy a public speech or lecture made for information purposes or copying government publications for public usage.

No infringement results if work is acknowledged when one is copying or citing from another author’s work.

Generally, in respect of written material, the following guidelines apply:

• Wherever possible, the author’s permission should be sought to reproduce his/her work.
• If in an article, paper or speech, when referring to the work of another, it is required that details of the reference be provided in the form of the name of the author and details of his/her publication i.e. title of book or magazine, publisher, date of publication etc.
• If only a small portion of the work is used, say a few sentences or a paragraph, and provided that an acknowledgement is made, permission is not needed.
• If a “significant” section is reproduced, such as a chapter, then permission should be obtained.
• It is generally accepted that work that is being used in academic institutions, research or for private use may be reproduced.